(Kyodo) _ Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko returned to Japan on Saturday after an eight-day trip to Ireland and Norway.

Arriving on a government aircraft at Haneda airport, the couple was greeted by other members of the imperial family and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. They left Japan on May 7 for Ireland and then moved to Norway on May 10. The couple met royal family members as well as private citizens in these countries.